Top 10 ways to boost your immune system naturally

October 22, 12:58 PMSeattle Holistic Health ExaminerGuinevere Amadeo

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It's that time of year again... temperatures are changing drastically, trees are making their spectacular show of fire, going bare for the winter, and our immune systems could use all the help they can get. During this fast-approaching “flu season,” do your body a favor and combat potential bugs by pumping up your immune system and taking excellent care of yourself and your environment.

1) Keep moving and breathing

Don't give into the urge to curl up by your heater vent and veg out drinking hot cocoa all winter. Keep your body moving, breathe full deep breaths, and enjoy the transition of the season. The lungs expel waste with every exhale and there's nothing better for immunity than keeping your cardiovascular system conditioned and blood moving through your body.

2) Sweat a little

Skin is the body's first defense and the largest organ of elimination. Break a light sweat to increase body temperature and promote detoxification and release of potential bugs.

3) Schedule regular massage

Receiving a therapeutic massage session 1-2 times per month can be a greatly effective, not to mention down-right pleasurable, way to boost the immune system. Strokes towards the heart increase circulation as much as a 20 minute brisk walk, and the grounding nature of massage helps to reduce daily stress and maintain balance.

4) Dry skin brush

The skin eliminates over one pound of waste acids each day in the average adult. Dry skin brushing cleanses the lymphatic system, removes dead skin cells, stimulates circulation and improves the function of the nervous system.

5) Hydrotherapy

Water, Water, Water!!! Contrast hydrotherapy is a simple and useful tool in immuno-boosting. It can be as simple as ending your showers on cold and as elaborate as spending a day at the spa... stem sauna, dry sauna, hot tub, cold plunge.. repeat! Remember the rule of 3: 30 seconds cold, 3 minutes heat- end on cold.

6) Visit your Chiropractor

Chiropractic is all about creating the space for the body to do what it innately knows how to do- heal and maintain balance. By making minor adjustments to the spine, the nervous system is better able to regulate the body and all its complex systems. Especially immunity.

7) Reduce sugar and increase vitamin C intake

The average American eats up to 3 pounds of sugar per week. Vitamin C is the most important food supplement our body's require for proper health and production of white blood cells. And since sugar and Vitamin C are absorbed by white blood cells in exactly the same way, vitamins get pushed out of the cells by the masses of sugar and leave white blood cells, our body's disease fighters, wholly unprepared.

8) Eat seasonally and locally

Consume plenty of fresh, seasonal vegetables raw, lightly steamed or in soup! The foods that naturally grow in our region this time of year- kale, chard, leafy greens, potatoes, squash- are rich in exactly the nutrients our bodies need to thrive through the winter. Cleaver!

9) Actively participate in your health and well-being

Do you call the Doctor for antibiotics every time you get a sniffly nose? Do you troop through your jam-packed day without skipping a beat when you're sick, refusing to take time off? Actively listen to your body and utilize its wisdom to nourish your health and vitality this year. Avoid simply masking the symptoms of illness, and really support your body in the healing process.

10) Practice good hygiene

This may be a no-brainer, but did you do that experiment in high school science class, measuring the bacteria that lives on a door knob? Yeah. Wash your hands often. And your telephone, door knobs and mouse pads. Hand sanitizer every 5 minutes isn't necessary, but a Lysol wipe goes a long way this time of year.

Yours in Health,

Guinevere Amadeo, LMP

Feel free to leave questions and comments below!